Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin: We Must End Systemic Racial Injustice
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on his colleagues to pass a series of bills aimed to reduce systemic racism in America. Durbin cited how the long-overdue national reckoning on race is helping many see more clearly how old, discredited ideas about race that most have rejected as individuals linger on in some of our institutions and laws. Durbin called on his Republican colleagues to honor the life's work of civil rights icons -… Continue Reading
07.24.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Illinois Delegation Discuss COVID-19 With Chicago Mayor Lightfoot
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with several members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, spoke with Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot about Chicago's ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response and how they can continue to assist her efforts to protect Illinoisans as the state re-opens. The group discussed how federal support can provide Illinois families and businesses with relief from the health and economic consequences of the pandemic, and what shou… Continue Reading
07.23.20
Durbin To DOJ: We Will Not Allow What Happened In Portland To Happen In Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) on the Senate floor to discuss the events unfolding in Portland, Oregon, in which heavily armed, unmarked federal forces in unmarked vehicles were filmed grabbing protesters off the street. Durbin also discussed the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) announcement of an expansion of Operation Legend to Chicago, Illinois, and committed to hold DOJ accountable to the stated goal of the operation, w… Continue Reading
07.22.20
Durbin, Duckworth Join Senate Colleagues To Introduce John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and 45 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the bipartisan John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bill to restore the landmark Voting Rights Act, end the scourge of minority voter suppression, and help preserve the legacy of John Lewis - one of America's greatest civil rights heroes. In 2013, the Supreme Court's Shelby County v. Holder decision gutted critical voter protections… Continue Reading
07.22.20
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Expansion Of DOJ Operation Legend To Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the Department of Justice (DOJ) announcing an expansion of Operation Legend to Chicago, Illinois. Operation Legend is DOJ's violent crime reduction initiative with the stated goal to provide support and assistance to state and local law enforcement partners as they work to combat violent crime, and gun violence in particular. Durbin and Duckworth are set to speak with U.S.… Continue Reading
07.21.20
Durbin, Duckworth Call Out President Trump On Reports Of Plan To Send Secret police TO Chicago
WASHINGTON - Following reports that President Donald Trump wants to send federal agents into cities, including Chicago, to conduct policing activities that are traditionally handled by local law enforcement, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to President Trump calling on him to refrain from taking this action, which is opposed by Governor Pritzker, Mayor Lightfoot, and other local leaders. "With the right leadership, federal law enforcement can ser… Continue Reading
07.21.20
Durbin: We Must Honor John Lewis' Life By Protecting The Right To Vote For All Americans
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) honored the life of U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA-05), a civil rights icon who risked his life to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, to protest the right to vote, and who fought for racial justice and equality in America throughout his entire life. "For a man who had witnessed the depths of hatred and despair, John Lewis was one of the most hopeful people I have ever met," … Continue Reading
07.21.20
Durbin: Sending In Secret Police To Cities Like Portland & Chicago Is Unacceptable & Un-American
WASHINGTON - Following reports that President Donald Trump wants to send federal agents into cities, including Chicago, to conduct policing activities that are traditionally handled by local law enforcement, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Senate to pass legislation to block the Trump Administration from deploying federal forces as a shadowy paramilitary against Americans. The Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America's Streets Act, which was also i… Continue Reading
07.17.20
Durbin Speaks To Chicago Bar Association About Justice In Policing Act
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke to the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) Young Lawyers Section's (YLS) Racial Justice Coalition via webcast about the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable for misconduct, change the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities. "The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many other Black… Continue Reading
07.15.20
Durbin Discusses Police Reform With National Organization Of Black Law Enforcement Executives
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke by phone with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Land of Lincoln Chapter President Marcus Lucas and local chapter members today about policing reform. During the call, Durbin heard from NOBLE members about their experiences in law enforcement and discussed his support for the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which aims to comprehensively change the culture of law enforcement by prohibiting racial and discrimina… Continue Reading
06.24.20
Durbin Commemorates Pride Month, Calls For Senate To Step Up During Moment Of Change In America
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today commemorated Pride Month and urged his Senate colleagues to continue to work for equal justice under the law during this historic moment of change in America. Durbin urged his colleagues to finally pass the Equality Act, speak out against efforts to discriminate against LGBTQ Americans, and recognize the importance of the racial justice movement by imple… Continue Reading
06.24.20
Durbin Votes Against Motion To Proceed To Republican Police Reform Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after voting against the motion to proceed to the Republican police reform bill, the JUSTICE Act: "Senate Republicans' proposal on police reform fails to meet this historic moment with the real change that the young people on the streets are calling for. We owe it to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and all of the Black and Brown lives we… Continue Reading
06.24.20
Durbin Votes Against Cory Wilson's Nomination To The Fifth Circuit Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after voting against the nomination of Cory Wilson to the Fifth Circuit Court: "For the second week in a row, Senate Republicans have confirmed a Circuit Court nominee with a record of strident hostility toward the Affordable Care Act. Even in the midst of one of the greatest public health crises in our nation's history, Republicans just won't let go o… Continue Reading
06.23.20
Durbin Calls On Senator McConnell To Allow For Bipartisan Negotiations On Police Reform Legislation
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to allow real debate on policing reform in order to find common ground and warned against a potential partisan vote on the floor of the Senate. Durbin joined his colleagues, Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), in calling on Senator McConnell to refer the pol… Continue Reading
06.23.20
Durbin, Grassley Introduce New, Bipartisan Legislation To Reform Elderly Home Detention And Compassionate Release Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON - Amid the COVID-19 public health pandemic, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), authors of the bipartisan First Step Act, landmark criminal justice reform legislation, introduced new, bipartisan legislation to reform the Elderly Home Detention Pilot Program and compassionate release from federal prisons. Sadly, more than 80 federal prisoners with pre-existing medical conditions that made them more vulnerable to COVID-19 have died as a result of the virus, more… Continue Reading
06.22.20
Durbin, Duckworth Join Senate Democrats In Introducing Resolution Recognizing June As LGBTQ Pride Month
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined the entire Senate Democratic caucus in introducing a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. The resolution highlights the contributions LGBTQ individuals have made to American society, notes several major milestones in the fight for equal treatment of LGBTQ Americans, and resolves to continue efforts to achieve full equality for LGBTQ individuals. The resolution also recognizes how the COVID-19 pand… Continue Reading
06.18.20
Durbin Votes Against Nomination Of Justin Walker To D.C. Circuit Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting against the nomination of Justin Walker to the D.C. Circuit Court: "Senate Republicans gave Justin Walker a lifetime appointment to the second highest court in the land for two main reasons: because Walker is a protégé of the Senate Majority Leader, and because he's an outspoken critic of the Affordable Care Act. It is shameful that even in the middle of a public health… Continue Reading
06.17.20
Durbin To McConnell: Let's Negotiate In Good-Faith To Reach Bipartisan Agreement On Police Reform
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow real debate on policing reform in order to find common ground and warned against a potential partisan vote on the floor of the Senate. Durbin is a cosponsor of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable for misconduct, change the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law enforcemen… Continue Reading
06.17.20
Durbin To McConnell: Let's Negotiate In Good-Faith To Reach Bipartisan Agreement On Police Reform
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow real debate on policing reform in order to find common ground and warned against a potential partisan vote on the floor of the Senate. Durbin is a cosponsor of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable for misconduct, change the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law enforcemen… Continue Reading
06.16.20
Durbin: Systemic Racism Plagues Our Nation & Criminal Justice System
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Police Use of Force and Community Relations," U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) pushed back against Senator John Cornyn's (R-TX) argument that systemic racism does not exist in our nation's justice system. "If you take a look at our system of justice and start with the premise that when it comes to drug users there is an equal percentage of White and Black drug users. Now you look at the number arrested for t… Continue Reading